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Origins and Progression of Adolescent Endometriosis

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Abstract

Accumulating evidence indicates that adolescent endometriosis is common and often severe. Here we explore the possibility that seeding of naive endometrial progenitor cells into the pelvic cavity early in life, that is, at the time of neonatal uterine bleeding or soon after the menarche, results in more florid and progressive disease, characterized by highly angiogenic implants, recurrent ectopic bleeding, and endometrioma formation. We discuss the potential intergenerational risk factors associated with earlyonset endometriosis and explore the molecular drivers of disease progression. Taken together, the available data suggest that an increased focus on early-life events may help to identify young women at risk of severe, progressive endometriosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leuven Institute for Fertility and Embryology, Oud-Heverleestraat 83, Leuven, 3001, Belgium

    Ivo Brosens MD, PhD, Patrick Puttemans MD & Stephan Gordts MD

  2. The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Monash University, Clayton, Australia

    Caroline E. Gargett PhD

  3. Department of Gynecology, Shanghai Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    Sun-Wei Guo M.Med, PhD

  4. Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

    Jan J. Brosens MD, PhD

  5. Department of Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Urology, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy

    Giuseppe Benagiano MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Ivo Brosens MD, PhD
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  2. Caroline E. Gargett PhD
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  3. Sun-Wei Guo M.Med, PhD
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  4. Patrick Puttemans MD
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  6. Jan J. Brosens MD, PhD
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  7. Giuseppe Benagiano MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Ivo Brosens MD, PhD.

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Brosens, I., Gargett, C.E., Guo, SW. et al. Origins and Progression of Adolescent Endometriosis. Reprod. Sci. 23, 1282–1288 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719116637919

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719116637919

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